This book has such a compelling premise: If we finally start making progress on the climate, the divisions in our society aren't going to go away2.5/5
This book has such a compelling premise: If we finally start making progress on the climate, the divisions in our society aren't going to go away - what will that mean? But, sadly, execution lets The Lost Cause down badly.
First, the positives. In one sense this book does exactly what it promises - it looks at how the divisions and disparate views that characterise modern western societies could play out against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian disaster. And no effort is spared fleshing out the author's world and ideas about those divisions. It's also a fairly quick read.
But, even for an "idea forward" novel (which this is), the plot and characters are weak. More than anything, they respectively seem a setting and props to facilitate the author's musings and opinions. Without spoiling the storyline, certain events start and stop when it's time to move on to new ideas, rather than for reasons that feel authentic to the world Doctorow has created. The characters are generally thin, and hold the (sometimes inconsistent) views the author needs to show off the various competing "sides" in this near future world. The romantic arc is also really implausible - it's feels like it is there to provide more props for the author to work with and to tick a box.
The prose, while readable, is ... cliche. Rather than feeling like it belongs in a near future world, it feels like an attempt to be cool *now; for instance, I doubt slang will stay that static over the coming decades.
If you like the premise, try something like A Half Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys instead.
Thanks to Head of Zeus, Netgalley and Cory Doctorow for this ARC (provided in exchange for an honest review)....more
A chase for a book that disappears on being read, in a world that may or may not be real� a vibrant, engaging premise - sadly let down by the book’s eA chase for a book that disappears on being read, in a world that may or may not be real� a vibrant, engaging premise - sadly let down by the book’s execution.
But first, the good. The premise really is something, and the book thoughtfully poses big questions about how we know that what we’re experiencing is real - questions it knows better than to take a firm stance on. The first perspective is genuinely fascinating too - it’s not difficult to believe that Lavie Tidhar has spent time in Vanuatu based on the detail and the warmth for the setting and characters.
But this short novel soon hops onto the next viewpoint around which the story spins, and the the next, and the next. There’s surprisingly little plot, and what there is is often doled out with brevity as well as a lack of depth and, ironically enough, realism. Five viewpoints spread across a modest 250 pages, all covering across loosely related events, doesn’t give the reader enough time or nuance to buy-in with many of the characters. The elements themselves are disparate in quality too: while Delia and Oskar’s tales are intriguing, the attempt to make Daniel’s vague comes across as amateurish and the epistolary component feels like a very light re-skin of certain real life events.
All in all� while this book promises much, I think the reality is that others have done it better. If you want a story-within-a-story, Rian Hughes’s XX pulls that off with more success. If you want delightfully weird and open, Phillip K Dick’s Ubik reigns supreme. And the book that doesn’t-exist-but-did-it? is handled with more skill by Jeremy Dronfield in The Alchemist’s Apprentice.
Ultimately this is a 3/5 for me. Thank you to Netgalley, Tachyon Publications and Lavie Tidhar for the opportunity to read an ARC of this upcoming book in exchange for an honest review.
Termush tells the story of what happens after an unspecified nuclear disaster. It's a great premise, and the way events unfolds feels more or less3/5
Termush tells the story of what happens after an unspecified nuclear disaster. It's a great premise, and the way events unfolds feels more or less believable, but there is something about it that doesn't quite work for me.
First, though, the positives. As I said above, the events feel vaguely plausible, and Holm skillfully and thoughtfully shows an individual (and a community's) response to a nuclear apocalypse without being too direct or forceful about what he's trying to say. The events of the book make you, along with the characters, reflect on fear and change and the desire for the familiar and comfortable in a changing world.
So why only 3/5? The book is written in quite a cold, remote style that befits the events and the mood the author was going for. While it seems like a deliberate style choice, the prose makes everything about the book feel washed out and flat. In addition to preventing you from connecting with the characters, it also deadens the impact of the story and the messages it's trying to pass on. I think there's a better version of this story that *could* have been written - possibly one where you're shown more of the characters, setting and emotions early on, before paranoia and the consequences of the apocalypse truly set in.
This edition is accompanied by a short introduction, which (as with most similar pieces) is best read at the end to avoid spoilers. This one was rather complicated, but did point out that some of J.G. Ballard's works are decent comparison titles for Termush - something with which I agree.
On the whole this was a good book - especially for those who like dystopias and subtle storytelling. Recommended with reservations.
Finally, thank you to Netgalley and Faber, who kindly provided an ARC of Termush in return for an honest review....more
This is a very strong debut novel by Jinwoo Chong.
The novel has a particularly engaging premise, and the three4.5/5, rounded down to 4 for Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.
This is a very strong debut novel by Jinwoo Chong.
The novel has a particularly engaging premise, and the three viewpoints are nicely balanced. The author does a good job of giving just enough guidance and structure to make the plot clear, without over-explaining or talking down to the reader. It does take a while to get going and to connect with the main character and his arc, but once that happens the story picks up pace nicely.
Although the characterisation is generally okay, I found some of the main character's behaviour hard to understand. It also felt like a key motivator for him - guilt - was dropped in bluntly in the middle of the story. This motivator helped explain things, but it could have been weaved through better, including the effect of his realisations on his subsequent actions.
The writing is fluid and evocative without being overwrought, making the story easy to visualise. For this reason I think Flux would make an excellent movie.
There's some (mostly) deftly-explored themes about cults of personality, the effects of trauma and cultural assimilation. There were one or two instances where the writing became a little bit too blunt/direct about the 'message' for my tastes. It's likely that aspects of the themes would have resonated more with me if I was of a similar background to the author and the main character, but that's hardly their fault.
I'd recommend this one - particularly for sci-fi readers who like a contemplative story.
Thanks to Melville House, Netgalley and Jinwoo Chong for this ARC (provided in exchange for an honest review)....more
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